2018 Media Releases

Transportation Coalition Issues Recommendations

The final report from the Lincoln Citizens' Transportation Coalition says the City can close the estimated $33 million annual gap in transportation needs through innovation, cost savings and additional revenue. The 27-member coalition of community and business leaders was appointed by Mayor Chris Beutler in August and delivered its recommendations to the Mayor today. The report is available at lincolnonthemove.com.

After a technical, financial and policy review, the Coalition determined that three areas contribute to the annual gap between available funding and transportation network needs: $21 million in preservation and street maintenance; $7 million in optimization like signal upgrades and maximizing traffic flow; and $5 million in growth and new streets. Members agreed on a three-pronged approach:

Adopt 24 best practices, including streamlining the business processes, optimizing the existing system, looking for innovation and developing a citizen advisory panel.

Add $20 to $28 million annually in revenue through local option sales tax instead of raising property or wheel taxes.

"Our 'Blueprint for Progress' has created growth and prosperity over the last ten years, by bringing all parties to the table and developing a shared vision," said Mayor Beutler. "This Coalition has applied that approach to our transportation strategy. Its report will help guide us as we build an even better Lincoln. The coalition members represent a broad cross-section of the community. Now, we want to use that network to reach out, inform and educate Lincoln. I want to thank the members for being part of a continuing tradition of community involvement in tackling big issues."

"We know that delaying improvements will cost us in dollars and lost opportunities, and it's clear that the residents of Lincoln want better streets now," said Bob Caldwell of NEBCO who co-chaired the Coalition with Miki Esposito, Director of the City Public Works and Utilities Department. "Now we are asking the public to be part of the process, to work with our Mayor and City Council to implement solutions in the near future."

All meetings of the Coalition were open to the public. The Coalition includes six current elected officials - State Senators Adam Morfeld and Mike Hilgers, City Council members Cyndi Lamm and Carl Eskridge, County Commissioner Jennifer Brinkman, County Engineer Pam Dingman and Mike DeKalb, Lower Platte South NRD Board. (The full list follows this release.)

The public is encouraged to visit lincolnonthemove.com to view the full report, provide comments and ask questions about transportation issues.

LINCOLN CITIZENS' TRANSPORTATION COALITION

Bob Caldwell, Vice President, NEBCO, Inc., Co-Chair

Carl Eskridge, Lincoln City Council

Cyndi Lamm, Lincoln City Council

Jennifer Brinkman, Lancaster County Commission

Pam Dingman, Lancaster County Engineer

Mike Hilgers, State Senator

Adam Morfeld, State Senator

Mike DeKalb, StarTran Advisory Board, Lower Platte South NRD Board

Bruce Bohrer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

Kathy Campbell, former State Senator and Lancaster County Commissioner